The authors of a controversial book about Anna Nicole Smith have lost a legal battle with their former publisher.

Pol Atteu and Patrik Simpson's Anna Nicole Smith - Portrait Of An Icon has caused scandal since its conception. Smith's former lovers Howard K. Stern and Larry Birkhead threatened to sue over allegations made in its pages - and then the authors landed in the witness stand, facing their own publisher, former Hollywood madam Jody 'Babydol' Gibson.

The pair tried to stop Gibson's Corona company from going ahead with the book - claiming the two parties only had a draft agreement. Atteu and Simpson then proceeded to publish their own version.

But a judge this week (begs8Apr08) ruled Gibson was entitled to publish the title. She said outside court, "My faith in the system is somewhat restored."